Oar-lock.



No. 742,490. PATENTED OCT. 27, 1903'. c. M.IPRAY. OAR LOOK.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 5, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

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' r @j fiee ys UNITED STATES Patented October 27, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CYRUS M. PRAY, OF BELGRADE LAKES, MAINE.

OAR-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION formingpart Of Letters Patent NO. 742,490, dated October27, 1903. Application filed January 6. 1903. Serial No. 137,822. (Nomodel.)

relative disposition of the several parts being such as to allow theoar-lock to turn and permit the feathering movement of the oar whenrowing'and which also allows the oar to be used for sculling andsteering the boat.

A further object of the invention is to produce a lock having auniversal movement, thereby permitting the oars to be dipped into andlifted from the water in a vertical line and swept in horizontal linesand also permits the ears to be shipped and unshipped with ease anddespatch.

A still further object is to reinforce the oar at the point of directstrain by means of an expansible ring or collar which forms a bearingfor the car, allowing it to turn freely in the lock, reducing thefriction to a minimum, and preventing the oar from becoming worn andbreaking, which is often the case wit oars used in the present locks.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the oar-lock, showinga portion of the gunwale to which it is attached. Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section of the lock. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the expansible ring orcollar and washer, and Fig. 5is a perspective View showing a modifiedform of collar.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawings.

The oar-lock 1 consists of a pair of forked arms 2, having a pin 3,swiveled in an opening 4. in the gunwale 5 of a boat. A ring 6 ispivoted between the ends of the forked arms 2 by means of threaded boltsor trunnions 7, which engage the interior threads of openings 8, formedin the ends of the forked arms. The ends of the bolts 7 are coneshapedand fit in diametrically-opposed depressions or sockets 9 in the ring 6,being adjustable and held in the proper position by means of lock-nuts10. The ring 6 is free to oscillate upon its bolts or trunnions 7, andsecured to the loom of the oar 11 are two expansible clamping rings orcollars 12 and 13, which lie one on either side of the ring 6. Theclamping-rings12 and 13 are each provided with upwardly-extending earsor lugs 14;, having threaded openings 15, through which passes a screw16, which clamps the ends of the rings together and secures them intheir proper position on the oar. The pivoted ring 6 is madesufficiently large to accommodate the inwardly extending annular flangesl7 and 18, formed on the rings or collars 12 and 13, which project ashort distance within the ring 6 and form a bearing for the oar, the earand its rings turning freely in the ring 6 and permitting featheringwhen rowing.

Washers 19, formed of leather, rubber, or other suitable material, reston the flanges 17 and 18, being interposed between the collars 12 and 13and the ring 6 and taking up any strain or sudden jar incident torowing.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that an oar mounted in anoar-lock as shown is capable of a universal movement and may also befreely turned, affording the rower the greatest command over the oar andpermitting it to be feathered or used for soulling or steering, in allcases being noiseless in its action.

By having .the expansible collars the oars can be adjusted outboard toany distance to suit the rower, while the inwardly-projecting flangesform a bearing and efficiently reinforce the car at the point of directstrain, preventing friction and materially lengthening the life of theear, there being no wear whatever on the oar proper.

In Fig. 5 I have shown'a modified form of clamping ring or collar. Inthis case the ring is formed in two sections 20 and 21, pivoted togetherby means of a pin 22.

Various changes in form, proportion, and minor details of constructionmay be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an oar-lockthe combination with a swivel-fork, ofa removable ring pivoted withinthe fork, a pair of expansible rings or collars adapted to clamp an carand disposed one on each side of the ring, inwardly-extending flangesformed on the collars and projecting within the ring, the inner ends ofthe collars being free to expand and contract Within the ring,adjustable trunnions carried by the fork, washers interposed between thecollars and the ring, and means for clamping the collars to an oar.

2. In an oar-lock, the combination with a swivel-fork, of a ring pivotedwithin the fork, a pair of expansible rings or collars adapted to clampan oar and disposed one on each side of the ring, inwardly extendingannular flanges formed on the collars and projecting within the ring,the inner ends of the collars being free to expand and contract withinthe ring, outwardly-extending ears formed integral with the collars,screws passing through said ears and adapted to clamp the collars to anoar, and washers interposed between the collars and the ring.

3. In an oar lock, the combination with a. swivel-fork, of a ring, apair of adjustable cone-shaped threaded trunnions carried by the fork,there being corresponding bearings formed in the ring adapted to receivethe trunnions, locking-nuts on the trunnions, a a pair of expansiblerings or collars disposed one on each side of the ring, inwardly-extending flanges formed on the collars and projecting within thering, the inner ends of the collars being free to expand and contractwithin the ring and means for clamping the collars to an oar.

'In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

CYRUS M. PRAY.

\Vitnesses:

GREENLEEF HERSOM, C. H. KELLEY.

